Wire leader



Sept. 30, 1952 N, w Ro-450s 2,612,546

WIRE LEADER Filed June 15, 1951 INVENTOR. /vo/sw/y/v Ronse S PatentedSept. 30, '1952.

wuts: LEADER Norman W. Romsos, Crosby, N. Dak.

Application June 15, 1951, Serial No. 231,889

1 Claim. (Cl. F75- 376) This invention appertalns to a wire leader fordrawing` iiexi-ble elements, such as electric conductors or wires,through conduits and has for its primary object to provide means foreffecting a facile and convenient replacement of a `lead wire for avehicle horn. f

lAnother object of this invention is to provide an elongated exible tooland to provide means for detachably connecting onel end of a wire orsimilar element thereto, so that the-wire or cable can Ibe easily drawnby the tool through a conduit or similar member.

These and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, thepreferred embodiment and one environmental use of which is set forth inthe following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein: v

Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the tube andworm assembly of the steering mechanism of a conventional vehicle,illustrating a tool, constructed in accordance with the principles ofthis invention in use to dispose a horn wire therethrough;

Figure 2 is a viewv similar to Figure 1 with the horn wire shown in aposition, after being drawn through the worm assembly;

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevational view of the means for connectingthe tool to the wire;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the ,connecting means;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the parts of the connectingmeans;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken -on line 1-1 of Figure4, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the handle for the tool.

With continued reference to the accompanying drawing, the tool I0. whichis especially designed and adapted for drawing cables, wires, orsimilarv flexible elements through conduits or similar housings,includes an elongated flexible cable I2, which constitutes the shankportion. An arcuate handle I4 is transversely iixed at the center of itsirmer convex side to one end of cable f I2, the handle .being hollow andhaving an axial slot I6 formed in its outer side to provide means forreceiving and retaining the cable, when it is coiled for storage.

Means is provided for detachably connecting the opposing end oi thecable I2 to a wire, such as the lead wire IB ior a horn. as illustratedin I ,the drawing. The connecting means 20 includes a socket member 22,which is permanentlyaffixed to the end of the cable. The 'socket memberI2 consists of a collar 24 which is iixedly circable. An inof thesleeve. Biiurcated outwardly'curved resilient fingers '30 overlie theinner end of the guide and are formed at their outer ends with grooves32, defining a socket with the inner portion of the guide.

Opposed lateral arms 36 and 38 extend integrally from the side edgesofthe guide and inherently resilient confronting clamping bars 40 and 42are carried by the outer ends of the arms, the bars paralleling the sideedges of the guide. Inwardly extending inner ends 44 'and 46 are formedon the bars and the outer ends are curved outwardly.

A ball 48 forms the other part ofthe connecting means and is detachablyfixed on an end ofthe wire I8 or similar element, the bali having asleeve 50 formed integral therewith and axially split to receive the endof the wire. Thus, the sleeve is expandable to accommodate various sizesof wires or similar elements which have one of their ends clampinglyengaged therein.

'Ihe ball 48 is adapted to be axially moved in the guide. through theopposing clamping bars and into engagement with the nger 3,0,the ends 44and 46 of the bars engaging the ball. as seen in Figure 4, to preventaccidental dislodgement thereof from the socket.

In the use illustrated in the drawing, vthe horn wire I8 has one of itsendsattachedto the ball 48 and the ball is attached in the socket;member, after the cable I2 is pushed through the tube 52 of the steeringassembly. By moving the cable I2, effected by grasping and pulling thehandle I4, the wire I8 is pulled through the tube and the diiiicultiesnormally encountered in trying to thread the' wire I8 through the tubeare obviated.

Of course, the tool I0 can be dependably employed for use in otherenvironments, where it in said socket, and said socket comprising acollar axed to said tape, an enlarged sleeve portion formed integrallywith said collar, said sleeve portion having a longitudinally extendingslot extending inwardly from its outer end, a Ipair of 5 outwardlycurved resilient ngers formed integrally with said sleeve portion andextending from the inner end of said slot, a pair of lateral armsfoiredgfiiitegrally' with sai'dgsleeve portion. at either-"Sidof saidslot, and a clamping loar formed integrally with the outer end of eacharm and having inturned inner ends, whereby said ball may be yieldablyheld by said fingers and said inner ends of said bars. NORMAN W. ROMSOS.REFERENCES CITED The kfollowing references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

Napier May 26, 1942

